INSPIRATION:The idea is inspired by the old residential building, we commonly see in Mongkok. Borrowing the element, "illegal iron balconies" become the inspiration for the facade design. The desire for views has historically created balconies which push out from the building facade, allowing occupants to peek out onto the street instead of into the opposite building. These illegal iron balconies have grown to become part of the iconic Mongkok streetscape, forming exquisite backdrops for the city.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION:The building is situated in the high density urban area of Mongkok which is a predominately retail, commercial and residential area made up by a mixture of old and new buildings. The subject site covers an area of about 614m2, and the building function is that of a Serviced Apartments. The development consists of 128 rooms, retail and a clubhouse.The building is in zigzag form for seeking different ways to maximize their views while negotiating the issue of hyper density.

OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION:Our design reinterprets the illegal structures within modern statutory requirements. The programme of creating a serviced apartment within the density of Mongkok led us to reconsider the iron balconies as a point of inspiration. Faced with the same problem of maximizing the views afforded by the site, our design reinterprets the iron balconies in a modern way, using the irregular protrusions to create unobstructed views for each individual occupant.

PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION:The design of the project started in January 2012 in Hong Kong and construction was completed in April 2017.

FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY:Architecture, Building and Structure Design

PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY:Historically, many balconies were filled with plants as a form of personal garden in the sky. Bringing this concept into our building, a green wall seemingly protrudes from the solid parts of the podium, creating a visual reminder of the historical connection of the balcony. The green wall also serves a function usage as it enhances the quality of life for the neighbourhood and occupants of the building by increasing the provision of greenery at a pedestrian level.

RESEARCH ABSTRACT:The building is set back from the street to allow more opportunities for the introduction of planting. As Mongkok is highly congested and densely populated, the setback allows space to breathe down onto the street, relieving some of the congestion and replacing it with greenery to have a positive contribution to the neighbourhood. The building setback also transforms the outdoor landscape area into an urban backdrop for public areas of the project.

CHALLENGE: The design is inspired from the traditional architecture in Hong Kong. While the iron balconies started off as a functional desire to obtain the best view for occupants, they have since evolved to become part of Mongkok's iconic streetscape. Borrowing elements from the traditional architecture of Hong Kong, the building becomes a contemporary interpretation of the challenges facing architecture in 21st century Hong Kong.

The Beacon Serviced Apartment and Retail by Aedas is a Nominee in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Category.

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